Toggle-controlled pivoted jaw wrench



Oct. 30, 1956 H. A. SHOWERS TOGGLE-CONTRQLLED PIVOTED JAW WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1955.

Ill/114 Harold fl. Showers m gmmmlmm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 30, 1956 H. A. SHOWERS TOGGLE-CONTROLLED PIVOTED JAW WRENCH 2. Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 41955 lid/ 01d J7. Show INVENTOR ATTORNEYS TOGGLE-CONTROLLED PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Harold A. Showers, Wellington, Kans. I Application November 8, 19551, Serial No. 51455618 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-84) This invention relates to an improvement on combined pliers and wrench.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved tool having a fixed and a movable jaw, with the movable jaw adjustable toward and away from the fixed jaw and rockable relative thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a comnited States Patent bined plier and wrench embodying a fixed jaw and a will appear as the description proceeds, the inventionv consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a combined plier and wrench constructed according to an embodiment of I this invention, showing the device in closed or clamping position with the lower jaw moved forward in its slide to its limit.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the device showing in dotted lines the movable jaw in open position with the lower jaw moved forward to its limit.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tool used either as pliers oras a wrench, the movable jaw being adjusted for a definite size work.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 designates generally an elongated handle which is substantially U-shape in transverse section and is provided at its rear end with a plug or solid body 11 having an inclined inner surface 11 forming a guide, the purpose of which will hereinafter described. The forward portion of handle 10 is enlarged as indicated at 12 so as to form a hollow head, and an obliquely disposed fixed jaw member 14 is formed integral with head 12. The jaw member 14 is formed with a plurality of teeth 13 for gripping one side of an article. A movable jaw member generally indi- Patented Get. 36, 1956 cated at 15 is disposed in cooperative relation with respect to the fixed jaw member 14 and is formed of a substantially triangular body 16. The body 16 has fixed thereto a jaw or clamping member 17, formed with teeth confronting the teeth 13. The clamping member 15 includes a lug or tongue 19 extending inwardly into the hollow head 12 and the tongue or lug 19 is pivotally mounted between a pair of slide plates 20, which are formed on the forward end of an adjusting bar 31, said slide plates being slidably engaged in confronting guide channels 21 formed in the enlarged portion or the hollow head 12 of handle 10. The forward edges of said guide channels 21*, Fig. 8 are of a V-shape. The slide plates 20 also have Vd forward edges so that they will engage the guide channels 21 in a manner that will prevent the sides of head 12 from spreading when subjected to pressure.

The tongue 19 is pivotally mounted between the slide plates 20 by a pivot pin 38, said pin having a head at each end and countersunk in the plates 20 so that pin 38 will prevent slide plates 20 from spreading when subjected to pressure. The guide channels 21 are inclined forwardly at substantially right angles to the plane of teeth 13 so that when jaw member 15 is in clamping position at any adjusted position toward or away from jaw member 14 the gripping member 17 will be substantially parallel with teeth 13. The jaw member 15 is constantly urged rearward by means of a coil spring 27 which is secured at its rear end on a pin 23 extending between the parallel sides 24 of handle 10. The forward end of spring 27 is secured to the jaw member as indicated at 25. A jaw operating handle which is substantially U-shape in transverse section is pivotally connected at its forward end by means of a pivot pin 27 to the rear portion of jaw member 15.

The handle 26 has the forward end of link 28 pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin 29 and the link 28 extends rearwardly into the handle 10 and is pivotally secured as by a pivot pin 30 to the rear end of adjusting bar 31. Adjusting bar 31 is formed integral with or welded to plates 24} and is formed at its forward end with an arcuate cut-out as indicated at 32 whereby the inner end of lug 19 is adapted to rockably engage the slide plates 20, said slide plates being at the forward end of bar 31. The rear end 31 of bar 31 is wider than the threaded opening in plug 11 thus preventing the rear end of bar 31 from being forced into the threaded opening when the tool is adjusted to a position whereby the end of adjusting bar 31 would be confronting said threaded opening.

A jaw adjusting screw 33 having a knurled head 34 at its rear end engages the threaded opening in plug 11, the forward end of said screw bearing against the rear end 31 of adjusting bar 31. Screw 33 is adapted to adjust bar 31 which in turn adjusts jaw member 15 with respect to the fixed jaw member 14 whereby different sizes of articles may be gripped between jaws 14 and 15. Spring 27 will maintain the rear end 31 of bar 31 in sliding contact with guide surface 11 and on the forward end of adjusting screw 33. The guide surface 11 and guide channels 21 being relatively parallel will cause the adjusting bar 31 and the movable jaw 15 to move obliquely relative to handle 10 when the adjusting screw is turned forwardly or to the rear. The front end of bar 31 is guided by guide channels 21 and the rear end of bar 31 is guided by slide 1 1 thus maintaining the parallel relationship of jaws 14 and 15 relative to each other.

When handle 26 which locks jaw member 15 is in jaw compressing position, as shown in Fig. 2, the axis of pivot pin 29 is disposed inwardly from the plane of the axis of pivot members 27 and 30 so that the handle 26 in the gripping position will be locked against movement. A stop lug 35 is carried by link 28 and is adapted to bear against the bight of handle 26, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to limit the inward movement of handle 26 relative to handle 19. The jaw member 14 is formed with an anvil 36 adjacent the inner portion thereof, and the jaw member f5 is formed with a cutter 37 confronting anvil 36 whereby wire or the like may be cut.

in the operation and use of this tool, when the tool is to be used as a pair of pliers, it may be adjusted to the desired position by turning adjusting screw forwardly or to the rear thereby causing the adjusting bar 31 and the movable jaw 15 to move forwardly or to the rear in an oblique manner relative to handle thereby changing the distance between jaws 14 and 15. The forward end of adjusting bar 31 will be guided by the guide channels 21 in the forward portion of handle 14} and the rear end of bar 31. will be guided by the inclined face 11 on the plug 11 at the rear end of handle 10. law member is rocked rcarwardly to open position by outwardly swinging handle 26, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The article to be gripped is inserted between jaws 14 and 15 and handle 26 is swung inwardly toward handle 10.

When the tool is adjusted to the desired jaw position and with the handles in closed position, the tool may be used as an open end wrench.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined plier and wrench comprising a handle having a U-shape in transverse section, a fixed jaw at the forward end of said handle, a movable jaw, said fixed jaw being disposed at an oblique angle relative to the length of said handle, guide means carried by said handle disposed at a right angle relative to the gripping face of said fixed jaw, an elongated jaw adjusting bar disposed in said handle, a pair of slide plates fixed to the forward end of said bar and engaging said guide means, means pivotally securing said slide splates to said movable jaw, means for adjusting the lengthwise position of said bar relative to said handle, a link pivotally connected at one end to the rear portion of said bar, a second handle pivotally secured at its forward end to said movable jaw, means pivotally securing the forward end of said link to an intermediate portion of said second handle whereby in the closed position of said second handle said latter pivot means will be disposed inwardly of the plane between the end axes of said link, to thereby lock said second handle and movable jaw in gripping position, parallel with the gripping face of said fixed jaw, and a spring connected between said first named handle and said movable jaw.

2. A combined plier and wrench comprising a handle having a U-shape in transverse section, a fixed jaw at the forward end of said handle, a movable jaw, said fixed jaw being disposed at an oblique angle relative to the length of said handle, guide means carried by said handle disposed at a right angle relative to the gripping face of said fixed jaw, an elongated jaw adjusting bar disposed in said handle, a pair of slide plates fixed to the forward end of said bar and engaging said guide means, means pivotally securing said slide plates to said movable jaw, a bar adjusting bolt threaded into the rear end of said handle and bearing against the rear end of said bar, a link pivotally connected at one end to the rear portion of said bar, a second handle pivotally secured at its forward end to said movable jaw, means pivotally securing the forward end of said link to an intermediate portion of said second handle, whereby in the closed position of said second handle said latter pivot means will be disposed inwardly of the plane between the end axes of said link, to thereby lock said second handle and movable jaw in gripping position, parallel with the gripping face of said fixed jaw, and a spring connected with said first named handle and said movable jaw.

3. A combined plier and wrench comprising a handle having a U-shape in transverse section, a fixed jaw at the forward end of said handle, a movable jaw, said fixed law being disposed at an oblique angle relative to the length of said handle, guide means carried by said handle disposed at a right angle relative to the gripping face of said fixed jaw, an elongated jaw adjusting bar disposed in said handle, a pair of slide plates fixed to the forward end of said bar and engaging said guide means. means pivotally securing said slide plates to said movable jaw, means for adjusting said bar relative to said handle, a link pivotally connected at one end to the rear portion of said bar, a second handle pivotally secured at its forward end to said movable jaw, means pivotally securing the forward end of said link to an intermediate portion of said second handle whereby in the closed position of l are second handle, said latter pivot means will be disposed inwardly of the plane between the end axes of said link, to thereby lock said second handle and movable jaw in gripping position, parallel with the gripping face of said fixed jaw, a spring connected between said first named handle and said movable jaw, and a stop lug carried by said link and engageable with said second handle to limit the inward movement of the latter.

4. A combined plier and wrench comprising a handle having a U-shape in transverse section, a fixed jaw being disposed at an oblique angle relative to the length of said handle, guide means carried in the hollow portion of the forward end of said handle, said guide means being disposed at a right angle relative to the gripping face of said fixed jaw and the forward edges of said guide means being of a V or bevel shape, a movable jaw, an elongated jaw adjusting bar disposed in said handle, a pair of slide plates fixed to the forward end of said oar, said slide plates having the forward edges Vd or beveled to engage said guide means, a pin headed at both ends pivotally securing said slide plates to said movable jaw, the heads of said pin being countersunk into the outer sides of said slide plates, means for adjusting said bar and movable jaw lengthwise relative to first named handle, a link pivotally connected at one end to the rear portion of said bar, a second handle pivotally secured at its for ward end to said movable jaw, means pivotally securing the forward end of said link to an intermediate portion of said second handle, whereby in the inner position of said second handle, said latter pivot means will be disposed inwardly of the plane between the end axes of said link, thereby locking said second handle and movable jaw in gripping position, with said movable jaw parallel with the gripping face of said fixed jaw, a spring connected between said first named handle and said movable jaw, a stop lug carried by said link and engageable with said second handle to limit the inward movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,791 Hagen Oct. 5, 1948 2,533,817 Koskinen Dec. 12, 1950 2,681,583 Buschrnan June 22, 1954 2,695,540 Berger Nov. 30, 1954 2,716,364 Cook et al Aug. 30, 1955 

